Man cleared in double shooting pleads guilty to federal gun charge

Douglas Lamar Williams

Douglas Lamar Williams, right, arrives for a court appearance on a gun charge at the federal courthouse in Spartanburg, Wednesday afternoon. Williams, of Spartanburg, has been charged with felon in possession of a gun and ammunition in connection to the shootings of Michael Hill-Gentry Jr., 22, and Darren Tyree Hill, 18, last April.

Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 6:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 6:10 p.m.

A Spartanburg man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal gun charge.

Douglas Lamar Williams, 30, was charged with being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition in connection to the April 7, 2012 shooting deaths of cousins Michael Hill-Gentry Jr., 22, and Darren Tyree Hill, 18.

Local authorities determined the killings justifiable under the state's Stand Your Ground Law.

Investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said Williams, 30, and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment at Lee's Crossing and saw the men trying to break in through a window. No one was inside the apartment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Crick said in court Wednesday that Williams — convicted of forgery in 2008 — had a .38 caliber revolver and .38-caliber ammunition when he exited the passenger side of his girlfriend's vehicle after seeing the men, who appeared to be breaking into the apartment, and shot them. Crick said after both men were shot in the head, Williams told his girlfriend to call 9-1-1 and later returned to the scene and met with law enforcement.

Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 court fee on the federal gun charge. Under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecution and defense agreed to a 78-month sentence, followed by supervised release and imposed fines.

U.S. District Judge Mary G. Lewis accepted Williams' plea and will sentence him after reviewing a report from the U.S. Probation Office. Williams could be sentenced in 45 to 90 days.

Williams' attorney, Andrew Johnston, said in court that Williams has been on electronic monitoring and home detention without violation since his arrest in August 2012. Johnston's motion that Williams be removed from electronic monitoring and house arrest was granted.

The slain men's families have questioned the killings. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said that one of the men had a gun.

According to an autopsy report, Hill-Gentry suffered a gunshot to the right side of his forehead.

Coroner Rusty Clevenger previously told the Herald-Journal that the gun barrel was close enough to leave gunshot residue and soot on Hill-Gentry's skin. The bullet traveled at a downward angle, the report states. Clevenger said evidence shows the gun was likely 1 to 10 inches from Hill-Gentry's head when the trigger was pulled.

Hill's autopsy showed the bullet entered the back of his head near the top of his scalp and traveled downward. Clevenger said it's difficult to determine how close Williams was to Hill when he fired the shot.

Williams will remain on $25,000 bond until he is sentenced.

The Office of the 7th Circuit Solicitor forwarded the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

<p>A Spartanburg man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal gun charge.</p><p>Douglas Lamar Williams, 30, was charged with being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition in connection to the April 7, 2012 shooting deaths of cousins Michael Hill-Gentry Jr., 22, and Darren Tyree Hill, 18.</p><p>Local authorities determined the killings justifiable under the state's Stand Your Ground Law.</p><p>Investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said Williams, 30, and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment at Lee's Crossing and saw the men trying to break in through a window. No one was inside the apartment.</p><p>Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Crick said in court Wednesday that Williams — convicted of forgery in 2008 — had a .38 caliber revolver and .38-caliber ammunition when he exited the passenger side of his girlfriend's vehicle after seeing the men, who appeared to be breaking into the apartment, and shot them. Crick said after both men were shot in the head, Williams told his girlfriend to call 9-1-1 and later returned to the scene and met with law enforcement.</p><p>Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 court fee on the federal gun charge. Under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecution and defense agreed to a 78-month sentence, followed by supervised release and imposed fines.</p><p>U.S. District Judge Mary G. Lewis accepted Williams' plea and will sentence him after reviewing a report from the U.S. Probation Office. Williams could be sentenced in 45 to 90 days.</p><p>Williams' attorney, Andrew Johnston, said in court that Williams has been on electronic monitoring and home detention without violation since his arrest in August 2012. Johnston's motion that Williams be removed from electronic monitoring and house arrest was granted.</p><p>The slain men's families have questioned the killings. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said that one of the men had a gun.</p><p>According to an autopsy report, Hill-Gentry suffered a gunshot to the right side of his forehead.</p><p>Coroner Rusty Clevenger previously told the Herald-Journal that the gun barrel was close enough to leave gunshot residue and soot on Hill-Gentry's skin. The bullet traveled at a downward angle, the report states. Clevenger said evidence shows the gun was likely 1 to 10 inches from Hill-Gentry's head when the trigger was pulled.</p><p>Hill's autopsy showed the bullet entered the back of his head near the top of his scalp and traveled downward. Clevenger said it's difficult to determine how close Williams was to Hill when he fired the shot.</p><p>Williams will remain on $25,000 bond until he is sentenced.</p><p>The Office of the 7th Circuit Solicitor forwarded the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.</p>